AIR CANADA LAUNCHES NEW EDI-TORONTO SERVICE

LONDON, 19 December 2012 – Air Canada rouge™, a new leisure airline unveiled by Air Canada in Toronto yesterday, has announced it is to introduce a new summer service from Edinburgh Airport to its Toronto hub, Toronto Pearson International Airport, with three flights per week from 3 July to 18 October 2013.

Air Canada’s new leisure airline marks a milestone in the transformation of Canada’s flag carrier to compete in the growing leisure travel sector. Along with details of the initial destinations it will fly to beginning in July 2013, the name of Canada’s new leisure airline – AirCanada rouge – was announced following a contest launched on Facebook inviting customers, employees and travel industry professionals for their input. Details about the contest and prize winners have been posted on facebook.com/aircanada.

“With the introduction of Air Canada rouge, Air Canada enters today’s growing leisure travel market on a truly competitive basis,” said Gary Cross, Air Canada’s General Manager, Europe, Middle East, Africa and India. “Air Canada rouge will leverage the strengths of AirCanada’s extensive network, operational expertise and frequent flyer reward programme in order to offer Scottish customers great value for their holiday travel.”

Robert Atkinson, Air Canada’s General Manager – Sales UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, added: “Air Canada rouge will combine the only non-stop service between Edinburgh and Canada, affordable fares and great service with the benefits offered by Air Canada that are valued most by holiday travellers. We look forward to giving customers in Scotland a warm welcome onboard Air Canada rouge, Canada’s affordably stylish leisure airline.”

Air Canada rouge’s Edinburgh-Toronto flight, AC1905, will depart Edinburgh on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 10:20 a.m. and arrive inToronto at 12:45 p.m. local time the same day. The return flight, AC1904, will depart Toronto on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8:35 p.m. and arrive at Edinburgh at 8:30 a.m. the next day (all times local).

Other new Air Canada rouge routes

For its inaugural 2013 season, Air Canada rouge will also introduce a new route between Toronto and Venice, Italy. In addition, Air Canadaseasonal services from Toronto and Montreal to Athens, Greece will be flown by the leisure carrier. Similarly, existing Air Canada flights operated in cooperation with Air Canada Vacations to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Costa Rica will be operated by AirCanada rouge effective July 2013.

Air Canada rouge flights to all destinations to be served in the carrier’s inaugural 2013 summer schedule will depart Air Canada’s main hub at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport offering customers seamless connections with Air Canada, Air Canada Express and its Star Alliance partner flights. Air Canada rouge will also operate non-stop flights to Athens from Montreal’s Trudeau Airport, in addition to its Toronto-Athens flights. Air Canada rouge customers benefit from attractively priced through-fares from any point within Air Canada’s extensive network on a single ticket as well as baggage checked through to final destination and Aeroplan mileage accumulation and redemption.

Air Canada rouge fleet

The Air Canada rouge fleet will initially comprise two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft to operate transatlantic flights in a two-cabin configuration offering a selection of rouge Plus™ seats with additional legroom and Premium rouge™ seats featuring additional seating comfort, space and enhanced meal and beverage service; and two Airbus A319 aircraft to operate North American flights in an all-economy configuration offering a selection of rouge Plus seats with additional legroom. These four aircraft will be released from Air Canada’s existing fleet to AirCanada rouge as the mainline carrier takes delivery of two new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in 2013, as announced on 1 October 2012.

Air Canada rouge will expand to other popular holiday destinations as Air Canada starts to take delivery of new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in 2014, thereby freeing up aircraft for deployment in the Air Canada rouge fleet. As this occurs, and subject to commercial demand, Air Canada rouge may operate up to 20 Boeing 767-300ER aircraft and 30 Airbus A319 aircraft, for a total of 50 aircraft, to pursue opportunities in markets made viable by Air Canada rouge’s lower operating cost structure. Flights operated by Air Canada rouge are subject to receiving all required regulatory approvals.

About Air Canada

Air Canada offers more daily flights from the UK to Canada than any other airline, with up to 63 non-stop flights per week to seven major Canadian cities scheduled this winter. Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline serving more than 175 destinations on five continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 15th largest commercial airline in the world and in 2011 served more than 33 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 59 Canadian cities, 56 destinations in the United Statesand 63 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,356 destinations in 193 countries. In 2012, Air Canadawas ranked Best International Airline in North America in a worldwide survey of more than 18 million airline passengers conducted by independent research firm Skytrax.

MB 19/12/12